Childers, former NASCAR Cup champion, new Xfinity crew chief

Rodney Childers Finds New Direction at JR Motorsports

Rodney Childers, recognized for leading Kevin Harvick to the NASCAR Cup championship in 2014, has found a new professional challenge. After leaving his position as crew chief at Spire Motorsports in April, Childers joins JR Motorsports. Childers will assume the crew chief role in the Xfinity series for the No. 1 Chevrolet, which will be shared by Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. This will be the first time Childers serves as a crew chief in the Xfinity series.

Rodney’s resume and track record speak for themselves. Rodney and I grew up together and have known each other since we were kids. That’s a relationship that has always been close and has remained that way to this day. We’ve always had an interest in working together in motorsports, and I’m grateful that this opportunity came along and we were able to bring him into the JRM family.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Co-owner of JR Motorsports

Childers worked with Justin Haley at Spire, but the team and he parted ways, considering the relationship wasn’t working. During his time at Stewart-Haas Racing with Harvick, Childers earned 40 wins and a Cup title. Subsequently, he worked with Josh Berry in 2024, the final year of Stewart-Haas Racing’s existence.

NASCAR and Jusan Hamilton: End of an Era

NASCAR announced the separation with race director Jusan Hamilton, with six races remaining to finish the season. Hamilton is no longer listed as a NASCAR employee, where his official title was managing director of competition operations. Hamilton began his career in NASCAR as an intern in 2012 and returned in 2016 performing various functions. He oversaw NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, the development of pit crews, and NASCAR’s iRacing racing divisions, in addition to serving as a race director. Hamilton was key in the elaboration of the annual calendar and that of each race weekend. His first race as race director was in 2018 at the Pocono Raceway. In 2022, Hamilton became the first Black race director to officiate the Daytona 500.